Atlanta, Ga 10/15/21 — The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC), the official philanthropic partner of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), welcomes a new executive board to work with Park Superintendent Ann Honious on a strategic direction to increase awareness of park resources and help fund improvements.

CRNRA is a unit of the National Park System and receives more than 3.5 million visits a year. In 2020, CRNRA was the 16th most visited national park unit, receiving more visitors than the Grand Canyon or Yosemite. The constant stream of hikers, bikers, walkers, dogs, paddlers, and more and a steady increase in visitation have placed a strain on the park's trails, facilities, and resources since the park’s establishment in 1978.

Superintendent Honious and her team at the National Park Service are currently nearing completion of a Comprehensive Trails Management Plan to address the park's needs and will partner with CNPC to help secure resources for the long-range implementation of the plan. The new CNPC executive committee and board, led by President and Board Chair Graham Dorian, will build on the momentum and community created during the group's almost ten years in existence to gather the support needed to help fund the park’s improvements.

Dorian explains, “Everyone loves the beauty and resources of the park, but most do not know it is part of the National Park System. We want to continue to build awareness of all of the park's resources and needs to help garner financial and volunteer support for this well-loved treasure. The park improves the quality of life for so many Atlantans and visitors from all over, and our goal is to make sure that the national park receives the care it deserves.”

CRNRA makes up 20% of the metro Atlanta area’s public greenspace and is an accessible source of recreation and education, boasting diverse natural resources and historical significance. The park is made up of 15 units along 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River, designated the first National Water Trail in 2012, and runs through Cobb, Fulton, Forsyth, and Gwinnett counties.

As of October 1, 2021, CNPC’s entirely volunteer-led executive committee includes Graham Dorian (President and Board Chair), Britt Stork (Vice President), Raymond Steed (Treasurer), and Peter Coffman (Secretary). Ann Honious, the recently arrived Superintendent of the CRNRA, began her assignment on August 1, 2021, relocating from Washington D.C., where she served as Deputy Superintendent of National Capital Parks - East.